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*'''1647-1875''' - [http://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/scotland-non-old-parish-registers-vital-records-1647-1875 Scotland Non-Old Parish Registers Vital Records] at [http://findmypast.com findmypast.com] - Index ($)
*'''1647-1875''' - [http://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/scotland-non-old-parish-registers-vital-records-1647-1875 Scotland Non-Old Parish Registers Vital Records] at [http://findmypast.com findmypast.com] - Index ($)
*'''1658-1919''' - {{RecordSearch|2390848|Scotland Church Records and Kirk Session Records, 1658-1919}} at [https://www.familysearch.org/search FamilySearch] — index
*'''1658-1919''' - {{RecordSearch|2390848|Scotland Church Records and Kirk Session Records, 1658-1919}} at [https://www.familysearch.org/search FamilySearch] — index
*[http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/ Scotlands'''People'''], index, images, free index, pay per view ($)
*[http://www.nls.uk/family-history 1500 - 2014  National Library of Scotland]
*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=60143 Scotland, Select Births and Baptisms, 1564 - 1950], ($). Also at [http://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/scotland-births-and-baptisms-1564-1950 FindMyPast], index, ($). Also at [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-30226/scotland-births-baptisms-1564-1950?s=218489221 MyHeritage], index,($).
*[https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1771030?collectionNameFilter=false Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950], index, incomplete.
*[https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-10321/scotland-selected-births-baptisms-c-1640-c-1860?s=218489221 Scotland, Selected Births & Baptisms, c. 1640 - c. 1860], index, ($).
*[https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1771074?collectionNameFilter=false Scotland Marriages, 1561 - 1910], incomplete. Also at [http://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/scotland-marriages-1561-1910 FindMyPast], index, ($). Also at [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-30229/scotland-marriages-1561-1910?s=218489221 MyHeritage], index, ($).
*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1636 Gretna Green, Scotland, Marriage Registers, 1794 - 1895] ($)  
*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1636 Gretna Green, Scotland, Marriage Registers, 1794 - 1895] ($)  
*[https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-10079/scottish-deaths-1747-1868?s=218489221 Scottish Deaths, 1747 - 1868], index, ($).
*[https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-10079/scottish-deaths-1747-1868?s=218489221 Scottish Deaths, 1747 - 1868], index, ($).
*[http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/content/help/index.aspx?r=554&612 Statutory Records,BMD 1855-2014], Index, ($).
*[http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/Content/Help/index.aspx?r=554&1375 Catholic Parish Registers], index, ($).
*[http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/Content/Help/index.aspx?r=554&1375 Catholic Parish Registers], index, ($).
*[http://www.freereg.org.uk/ FreeReg], index.
*[http://www.freereg.org.uk/ FreeReg], index.
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*[http://www.nas.gov.uk National Archives of Scotland]:&nbsp;Online catalogue show holdings viewed while physically there.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br>  
*[http://www.nas.gov.uk National Archives of Scotland]:&nbsp;Online catalogue show holdings viewed while physically there.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br>  
*[http://www.scottishdocuments.com Part of the National Archives of Scotland]:&nbsp;Digitized collections&nbsp;<br>  
*[http://www.scottishdocuments.com Part of the National Archives of Scotland]:&nbsp;Digitized collections&nbsp;<br>  
*[http://www.scan.org.uk Scottish Archive Network]:&nbsp; Digitized Collections<br>  
*[http://www.scan.org.uk Scottish Archive Network]:&nbsp; Digitized Collections<br><br>  
*[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/ National Archives of England]:&nbsp;Link to catalogue<br>  


Records of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland:  
Records of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland:  


[https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/advanced-search#{%22category%22:%22church%22,%22record%22:%22church-other%22} Scotlandspeople - 1742-1900]<br> [http://www.scottishcatholicarchives.org.uk/ Scottish Catholic archive].<br>Catholic Church. Some Catholic Registers are held at the [http://www.nas.gov.uk/ National Archives of Scotland] with the identifier of <u>[http://www.nas.gov.uk/onlineCatalogue/ NAS REF: RH21]</u>.  
[https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/advanced-search#{%22category%22:%22church%22,%22record%22:%22church-other%22} Scotlandspeople - 1742-1900]<br> [http://www.scottishcatholicarchives.org.uk/ Scottish Catholic archive].<br>Catholic Church. Some Catholic Registers are held at the [http://www.nas.gov.uk/ National Archives of Scotland] with the identifier of <u>[http://www.nas.gov.uk/onlineCatalogue/ NAS REF: RH21]</u>.  
'''Research Tutorials at FamilySearch:'''
*[https://familysearch.org/ask/learningViewer/241 '''Scotland's Old Parish Registers: How to Access, Use, and Interpret'''] - Parts 1 and 2
*[https://familysearch.org/ask/learningViewer/783 '''Using Church of Scotland Parochial Registers to trace Scots Ancestry''']
*[https://familysearch.org/ask/learningViewer/338 '''www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk''']
*[https://familysearch.org/ask/learningViewer/510 '''British Resources on FamilySearch.org'''] - Parts 1 and 2
*[https://familysearch.org/ask/learningViewer/511 '''British Resources on Ancestry'''] - Parts 1 and 2
*[https://familysearch.org/ask/learningViewer/782 '''Scotland's Lost Other Half: Tracing Difficult Ancestral Lines in Scotland's Non-Parochial Register''']
'''Wiki articles describing online collections are found at:'''
*[[Scotland Births and Baptisms (FamilySearch Historical Records)|Scotland Births and Baptisms (FamilySearch Historical Records)]]
*[[Scotland Marriages (FamilySearch Historical Records)|Scotland Marriages (FamilySearch Historical Records)]]
*[http://www.ancestry.co.uk/ Ancestry.co.uk], a paid&nbsp;subscription site, &nbsp;has some Scotland Parish Records available online. This site is available at the Family History Library and Regional Centers for free.
Go to the [[Scotland Strategies for Locating Births, Marriages and Deaths|Scotland&nbsp;Research Strategies]] page.


== Understanding the Records  ==
== Understanding the Records  ==
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=== Church of Scotland ===
=== Church of Scotland ===
''See also: [[Scotland Established (Presbyterian) Church_Records]]''
The Church of Scotland (a Presbyterian church) has been the recognised national church of Scotland since 1690; it is not a state or "established" church (although that latter description has found its way into various official documentation such as marriage registers) and that independence from the state was eventually acknowledged in the Church of Scotland Act 1921. The organization of the Church of Scotland is as follows:  
The Church of Scotland (a Presbyterian church) has been the recognised national church of Scotland since 1690; it is not a state or "established" church (although that latter description has found its way into various official documentation such as marriage registers) and that independence from the state was eventually acknowledged in the Church of Scotland Act 1921. The organization of the Church of Scotland is as follows:  


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*Maps showing parish boundaries to help determine which parish records to search  
*Maps showing parish boundaries to help determine which parish records to search  
*Lists of neighboring parishes can be found at [http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/sct/ Genuki.org.uk].
*Lists of neighboring parishes can be found at [http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/sct/ Genuki.org.uk].
*Civil Parishes and Counties of North East Scotland Showing Overall Dates of Old Parochial Records: Held in Edinburgh and Available Worldwide on Microfilm [Scotland]: Aberdeen and North East Scotland Family History Society''[ 198-]. ({{FHL|941 E7c|call number-id|disp=Family History Library&nbsp;Map Case 941 E7c pt. 4}}) ''
*The Phillimore Atlas and Index of Parish Registers, 2nd ed. Chichester, England: Phillimore &amp; Co. Ltd, 1995. ({{FHL|941E7pa|callnumberid|disp=Family History Library&nbsp;Book 941 E7pa}})
*Parish Maps of Scotland.&nbsp;Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1991. ({{FHL|6036350|Fiche-id|disp=Family History Library Book 941 E7ch; Fiche 6036350}})
*Phillips’ Handy Atlas of the Counties of Scotland 1881.&nbsp;London, England: G. Phillip, 1881. ({{FHL|941 E7p|call number-id|disp=Family History Library Book 941 E7p; Film 423175}})
*Parish outline maps are also available online at [http://www.scotlandsfamily.com/parish-maps.htm http://www.scotlandsfamily.com/parish-maps.htm].
=== Nonconformists ===
=== Nonconformists ===


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For more background information&nbsp;on churches in Scotland, including a historical time-line, read the article [[Scotland Church History|Scotland Church History]].
For more background information&nbsp;on churches in Scotland, including a historical time-line, read the article [[Scotland Church History|Scotland Church History]].


== Identifying Churches ==
==  Accessing Records ==
*
* All Church of Scotland OPRs can be accessed on the website of [[ScotlandsPeople]]. There is no fee to search for names, but there is a fee of several pounds per original image. The original images can also be browsed for free through the FamilySearch Catalog. You must be at a Family History Center or Affliate Library.


=== Books containing maps that show parish boundaries: ===
* Microfilm and Microfiche indexes are also available. See the article [[Scotland Old Parochial Registers (OPR)]]


*'''Civil Parishes and Counties of North East Scotland Showing Overall Dates of Old Parochial Records''': Held in Edinburgh and Available Worldwide on Microfilm [Scotland]: Aberdeen and North East Scotland Family History Society''[ 198-]. ({{FHL|941 E7c|call number-id|disp=Family History Library&nbsp;Map Case 941 E7c pt. 4}})
* Some records will have been included in the IGI, a sample of genealogical records from around the world. See:
*'''The Phillimore Atlas and Index of Parish Registers''', 2nd ed. Chichester, England: Phillimore &amp; Co. Ltd, 1995. ({{FHL|941E7pa|callnumberid|disp=Family History Library&nbsp;Book 941 E7pa}})  
**[[Scotland Births and Baptisms (FamilySearch Historical Records)|Scotland Births and Baptisms (FamilySearch Historical Records)]]
*'''Parish Maps of Scotland.&nbsp;'''Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1991. ({{FHL|6036350|Fiche-id|disp=Family History Library Book 941 E7ch; Fiche 6036350}})  
**[[Scotland Marriages (FamilySearch Historical Records)|Scotland Marriages (FamilySearch Historical Records)]]
*'''Phillips’ Handy Atlas of the Counties of Scotland 1881.&nbsp;'''London, England: G. Phillip, 1881. ({{FHL|941 E7p|call number-id|disp=Family History Library Book 941 E7p; Film 423175}})
* [http://www.freereg.org.uk/ FreeReg] is a site that transcribes records from across the UK. A few Scotland Church Records are included. No images are available.  


Parish outline maps are also available online at [http://www.scotlandsfamily.com/parish-maps.htm http://www.scotlandsfamily.com/parish-maps.htm].
== Research Guidance ==


==== 1851 Census of Places of Worship  ====
'''Research Tutorials at FamilySearch:'''
 
*[https://familysearch.org/ask/learningViewer/241 '''Scotland's Old Parish Registers: How to Access, Use, and Interpret'''] - Parts 1 and 2
Popularly called the 1851 Religious Census, this is a resource for identifying what churches existed where in 1851. [[1851 Census Places of Worship|Read more...]]
*[https://familysearch.org/ask/learningViewer/783 '''Using Church of Scotland Parochial Registers to trace Scots Ancestry''']
 
*[https://familysearch.org/ask/learningViewer/338 '''www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk''']
==== The Union List of Church Records  ====
*[https://familysearch.org/ask/learningViewer/510 '''British Resources on FamilySearch.org'''] - Parts 1 and 2
 
*[https://familysearch.org/ask/learningViewer/511 '''British Resources on Ancestry'''] - Parts 1 and 2
The staff of the Family History Library has compiled a resource called the [[Scotland Church Records Union Lists|Scotland Church Records Union List]]&nbsp;which strives to identify all pre-1855 churches in Scotland and whether they have surviving records. It also contains brief parish and congregation histories. This information, arranged by county then parish, is available through the Wiki by searching for a [[Scotland Old Counties pre 1974 and New Counties post 1974|county]] or parish of interest.  
*[https://familysearch.org/ask/learningViewer/782 '''Scotland's Lost Other Half: Tracing Difficult Ancestral Lines in Scotland's Non-Parochial Register''']
 
== Old Parochial Registers (OPR)  ==
 
The term ''old parochial registers'' refers to the parish records kept by the Presbyterian Church (Church of Scotland) from the time the church began keeping records up to the year 1855. Records include registers of: <br>
*Births/baptisms<br>
*marriages/proclamations<br>
*deaths/burials<br>
The amount of information in registers varies from parish to parish. Later records generally give more complete information than earlier ones. For more information see [[Scotland Established (Presbyterian) Church Records|Scotland Established (Presbyterian) Church Records]].
 
Most parish registers begin after 1650.  
 
== Kirk Session Records ==
Some kirk session (parish court) records begin earlier than the parish registers. Kirk session are church court records and which may have some christening, marriage, and burial records for those who belonged to a different denomination such as a Seceder (a Presbyterian church outside of the Church of Scotland) or Dissenter (Non-Parochial) church. The main Seccesionist churches included the following:
* The Reformed Presbyterian Church
* The Original Secession (or First Secession) Church
* The Associate Synods (Burghers and Antiburghers, and the Auld Licht Burghers, New Licht Burghers, Auld Licht Antiburghers and New Licht Antiburghers)
* The Relief Church
* The United Secession Church
* The United Presbyterian Church
* The Free Church
'''Online Kirk Session Records'''  
 
To view online data from some Seceder church denominations throughout many areas of Scotland, visit [http://www.oldscottish.com/records.htmltish.com Oldscottish.com]  
 
Some early parish registers may be in Latin. Scotland has its own version of English, so you may need to use a dictionary to understand some words and terms. Read more in [[Scotland Language and Languages|Scotland Language and Languages]].
 
For an interesting article on what is found in the registers, see:  
 
*Whyte, Donald. "Old Parochial Registers of Scotland." Refers to people from various parts of Ireland - baptisms, marriages - that were held in various Scotland Old Parish Registers for the years 1691-1846. Article in ''The Irish Ancestor'', vol.III, no.2,1971, pages 79-82. Family History Library book 941.5 B2i. <br>
 
==== Indexes  ====
 
Indexes to the old parochial registers have been created and are available in various forms.&nbsp; See the following Wiki articles for more information:
 
*[[Scotland Established (Presbyterian) Church Records|Scotland Established (Presbyterian) Church Records]].  
*[[Scotland Old Parochial Registers (OPR)|Scotland Old Parochial Registers (OPR) Index]]
 
 
{{Template:Pros-Scot}}
 
{{Place|Scotland}}
 
[[]]  


[[Category:Church_records_in_Scotland]]
[[Category:Church_records_in_Scotland]]
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